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7 Q+A: Nancy Willamon

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We’re revving up for TWSS 2015 and have so many new + exciting details to share with all of you. While we cross our i’s and dot our t’s, we want to spotlight a few amazing, local women in our community through our 7 Q+A’s. Or as we refer to it in the moffice, acceptable stalking.

Nancy is yet another incredible woman with powerful stories to share. We were blown away by her efforts (with Joanna Strauss and Lisa Meid) to bring the “Before I Die” wall to Champaign.

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What are you grateful for today?
Laughter and love.
That my garage door opened and my shoes match.
That the sun is shining even though my sunglasses are at home on my counter.
That I am enough. That I am enough.

Tell us about one of your friends and what you love about her.
I am lucky to have some really great friends.  But my sister, Jane Ann, is my rock.  She can throw together a five-course meal with two-course meal ingredients.  She has a really, really, really big heart.  She has a wicked sense of humor and we can always get giggle gushes easily.  Her sense of style goes unmatched.  But best of all…she loves me unconditionally, not to mention she and her husband have a great pool with an unlimited stock of cool beers.

Describe one of the best days of your life.
Only one…difficult…

I still remember two Christmas’ ago when I looked up and there were my two boys and my grandson sitting on my couch together.  It had been a really tough year of various separation…so  just wow.

And, of course, every single day that my grandson says to me “I love you, Nana.”

What’s the best lesson you learned from your mother/grandmother?
Well hello….”Don’t pick your nose in public!”

But seriously, my mom is amazing and by example has always shown me to embrace life, no matter your age.  She exhibits this daily.  She still plays on a golf league with my sister and me at age 83.  Get.out.of.town.  And my grandmother…so much grace and wisdom.  When I pierced my nose at age 50, she told me “You are never too old to be foolish.”  And I prove that often.  She lived just shy of age 102, was in three bridge clubs up until she died, and I miss her every. single. day.

We’re all unique. What is your special gift?
That’s a tough one. Perhaps that I can name all 50 states in alphabetical order by singing the song Fifty Nifty United States that I learned in 5th grade? Or perhaps that I am not afraid of stepping outside the box  of ordinary life. That I can be pretty darn tough and be a survivor when life throws you a curve ball. That my heart is kind and my soul is good.

What could women be doing to make their community a better place?
Listen. Don’t judge.
Get involved.
Be silly.  Be creative.
Love yourself.  Love others.
Dance.  Sing.
Don’t ever be afraid to be who you are.
If you love yourself and others, everything you do will have an impact on the community you live in.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Tell my cat his breath stinks.

I learned to surf at age 54 and jumped off the Stratosphere at age 58.

But my true fear is of not always letting go of what is comfortable and venturing out to the unknown.  Believing that sometimes it just takes dipping your toes, then your body, then your mind.

I have always encouraged my children to go and see the world.   I wish I was brave enough to take off on an endless journey to learn about how the entire world lives.   Just soak it up!

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